[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 178 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6209-H6210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DANGERS OF COMMUNISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, right now, more than 500 
elementary, middle, and high schools across the U.S. contain Confucius 
classrooms. These programs, which have been introduced slowly over a 
number of years, share CCP propaganda and provide cover to communist 
regimes.
  At a time when Christians and Uyghurs are being persecuted in China, 
we cannot allow curriculums written in support of the Chinese Communist 
Party to be taught in the American classrooms.
  To address this issue, it is time to pass the Crucial Communism 
Teaching Act, which would direct the Victims of Communism Memorial 
Foundation to provide civic education curriculum and materials for 
middle and high school students about the true dangers of communism.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. We cannot 
afford to allow this growing influence to continue in American 
classrooms.


                  Remembering Monsignor Raymond Balta

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the 
life of Monsignor Raymond Balta who passed away this weekend at the age 
of 80.
  For the past 28 years, Monsignor Balta has served as the pastor of 
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Johnstown where he led services, 
he prayed with his congregation, and he comforted those who were sick.
  During his time at St. Mary's, Monsignor Balta helped to grow and 
refurbish the parish, ensuring that congregants would be able to 
continue worshipping there for decades to come.
  At his retirement this past summer, Monsignor Balta was asked about 
his activities outside of his religious duties. In response, he said 
that the church does not exist in a vacuum and that the church is an 
integral part of the community.
  This afternoon, please join me and all those in Pennsylvania's 13th 
Congressional District in praying for the members of St. Mary Byzantine 
Catholic Church in Johnstown as they mourn the loss of their beloved 
Monsignor Raymond Balta.


               Greater Transparency from Federal Agencies

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, as 
Americans celebrated Small Business Saturday by shopping small and 
working to support local businesses, those same businesses continued to 
struggle under oppressive Federal regulations.
  Under President Biden, burdensome rules have dramatically hurt small 
businesses that are forced to spend more time and money to meet Federal 
requirements. This week, the House will vote on the Prove It Act, which 
would require greater transparency from agencies on regulatory 
decisions that affect small businesses and ensure that small businesses 
can petition the SBA to review the economic impact of new rules and 
regulations.
  More than 61 million Americans are employed by small businesses, and 
any regulation that unfairly targets them is a danger to their families 
and the communities that rely on them every day.
  It is time to pass this legislation and stand up to the Biden 
administration's failed policies that have hurt our local economies 
over the past 4 years.


        Congratulating Geistown's Chief of Police Edward Porada

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Geistown, Pennsylvania's new Chief of Police Edward Porada.
  Chief Porada brings 27 years of experience to the borough where he 
will continue his career in law enforcement.
  As a former canine officer, a former deputy sheriff, and a 
firefighter, Chief Porada has a deep understanding of public service, 
and the chief knows what it takes to serve and protect the people of 
Geistown.
  His background in criminal investigations and public safety make him 
the ideal leader in this role. I look forward to working with him to 
serve the people of Cambria County, addressing public safety and the 
issues that matter most to that wonderful community.

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